Whether you want to continue the Kansas City BBQ tradition at home or simply love the al fresco outdoor dining experience, an outdoor kitchen is a must to turn your backyard into an at-home vacation haven.
In Kansas City, a new outdoor kitchen can cost between $20,000 and 50,000 or more. The actual cost is affected by several factors, including:
Size: The size of your outdoor kitchen, including the necessary counter space.
Material Selection: Countertop material will also affect how much your outdoor kitchen would cost
Construction Method: The complexity of kitchen design, including any overhead structures.
Appliances: Extra appliances besides stoves and sinks.
Additional costs: plumbing, electrical wiring, permitting, and any other expenses associated with the project.
Cost by Size
The size of your kitchen will significantly impact the cost of your project. On average, an outdoor kitchen costs $75 to $250 per square foot, although the rate can vary based on your local labor rates. Most outdoor kitchens typically range from 200 to 300 square feet, with some larger designs taking up 400 square feet or more.
Cost by Layout
The layout and complexity can also affect the cost of your outdoor kitchen. Popular layouts include:
Small layout: suitable for kitchens under 200 square feet. Usually comes in a linear design with one grill and a counterspace on the side.
L-shaped layout: L-shaped layouts can be placed along the edge of your patio and usually feature multiple appliances, an extended counter, and sometimes a bar.
Large/full kitchen: A full-size outdoor kitchen has a rectangular layout, typically with three sides of counters and appliances and a central island. These layouts can cover over 400 square feet.
Overhead Structures
Sometimes you may want to add an overhead structure, such as a pergola, to cover part of your outdoor kitchen for weather-proofing. Overhead structures cost about $15,000 on average, but exceed $50,000 depending on the size, design, and material used.
Cost by Material
The material you use for your countertop can significantly impact the cost of your outdoor kitchen. Popular countertop materials for outdoor kitchens include granite, soapstone, concrete, and tiles.
Outdoor Kitchen Countertop Price by Material
Material
Cost (per square foot)
Granite
$80 to $150
Soapstone
$60 to $130
Concrete
$50 to $150
Porcelain and ceramic tiles
$17 to $30
Many outdoor kitchens are built on top of existing patio pavings. However, if you want to use a different type of paver for your kitchen, be ready to pay more for material and labor as well.
Appliance Costs
Appliances are the soul of your outdoor kitchen, determining its capacity and functionality. To ensure the efficiency and safety of your outdoor kitchen, make sure to use appliances specifically designed for outdoor use.
Below are the prices for some common outdoor kitchen appliances:
Grill: $700 to $7,000
Outdoor-rated Fridge: $2,000 to $6,000
Storage Doors and Drawers: $350 to $1,500
Pizza Oven: $700 to $7,000
Ice Trough: $300 to $600
Dishwasher: $400 to $2,000
Wine cooler: $400 to $2,000
Additional Costs
Like most other architectural design/build projects, a complex outdoor kitchen project also comes with some additional costs for design, engineering, and upgrades
Plumbing
If your kitchen comes with a new sink, it will also need new plumbing. The cost to install a working sink outdoors falls between $300 $600 in most cases. Plumbing for water or gas, altogether, typically ranges from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on how many appliances are needed to service and how far it is away from the source
Electrical
Sometimes you may be able to use the exterior outlets on your home to support your outdoor kitchen appliances. However, most times you might need to install new outlets to keep the kitchen running. New outlets can cost anywhere from $250 to $500 per outlet, with outlets further away from the home costing over $1,500 sometimes.
Outdoor Living Features
Fire features, dedicated dining areas, outdoor lighting, and landscaping around the kitchen each come with their separate cost.
Permits
You may need certain permits to complete your outdoor kitchen projects, especially if new electrical, plumbing, and surrounding structures are involved.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
You can put together a DIY kitchen on your patio with a simple grill and standing storage cabinets for around $4,500. However, we highly recommend hiring an outdoor kitchen expert to build your outdoor kitchen if you want something lasting, efficient, and enjoyable. A professional landscaping company can also take care of any permitting needs and play the role of Project Manager to help you coordinate with other contractors on the project.
To custom-build an outdoor kitchen on an existing patio, expect to pay between $20,000 to $50,000. If you want to add an overhead structure to the kitchen area, you should budget an extra $5,000 to $10,000.
Do Outdoor Kitchens Increase Property Value?
A well-built outdoor kitchen can significantly increase your property value. Generally speaking, the larger and more complex the kitchen, the higher the increase in property value. According to the National Association of REALTORS, most outdoor kitchens can yield a 71% return on investment.
Outdoor Kitchen Maintenance
Like all hardscapes and appliances, your outdoor kitchen also requires regular maintenance. Common outdoor kitchen maintenance routines include appliance inspection and repair, regular cleaning, and paver sealing and maintenance.
In the Midwest, you will also need to winterize your outdoor sinks to prevent freezing. This can be done when your sprinklers are blown out, using a similar process by blowing air through the lines to prevent freeze damage during the off-season.
Outdoor kitchens give you the luxury of cooking gourmet meals to enjoy outside with your guests on a beautiful day. You will no longer have to miss most of the party because you are cooking inside, while your friends and family are gathering outside. Outdoor kitchens run the gamut from a simple grill space to a full-blown professional kitchen. Follow along to learn how to plan for your outdoor cooking experience.
Choosing Components
When choosing the components for your kitchen, make sure you choose things that are rated for outside use. Indoor components will not last long outside. They are not built to withstand temperature fluctuations or winds that fling sand and dirt at them. Outdoor components are a little more expensive, but you should not have to replace them for many years.
Roof or No Roof
Does your kitchen need a roof? It is less expensive not to build a roof, but that limits the kitchen’s utility. A roof protects your components from rain, snow, and sunlight. It also means a little precipitation doesn’t ruin your food – or your party. Some components, such as high-end ovens and stoves, really can’t survive without a roof even if you buy outside versions. If you will use your outdoor kitchen at least once a week then, you may want to consider covering to maximize your enjoyment and ability to use the space.
Choices
Planning an outdoor kitchen can be fun. There are many choices to make, though, so here are some ideas about what can go in your outdoor kitchen.
Appliances
Before looking for appliances, make a list of the type of food you will be cooking outside. That list will dictate the type of appliances you buy for your outdoor kitchen. It is best to focus on appliances that will be consistently used. It is not necessary to get a wine fridge if you don’t drink wine or a rotisserie if you don’t eat a lot of chicken. Choose the appliances that your family will use regularly to get the most value out of your outdoor kitchen.
Grill
BBQ lovers will want a grill to work on. This can be a movable BBQ grill or one that is built into an island with a countertop. Built-in units are the best for a stunning design, especially if you use them a lot. If you are a part-time griller, then a moveable unit may be ok. You also get to choose the type of fuel you use. You can use wood, charcoal, or gas. When deciding where to place the grill in your outdoor space consider the direction that you will be facing while cooking and try to orient it towards the living area so that you can interact with your guest. You should also consider the views from the inside of the house. There will be a lot of times that you won’t be out there and you don’t want to look straight out the window and a bulky grill. Try to tuck the grill island in corners if possible.
Side Burner
If you cook stir-fries frequently, you will want to get a side burner to do that on. These get very hot very quickly to sear the flavor into vegetables, meats, and other food. They are usually gas-powered and can be a nice touch for the avid BBQ master.
Fire Table
This can be a table that has gas burners embedded in it. Guests can sit at the table and visit while watching you cook. After the cooking is done, you can leave the gas on and light up the night with fire or turn it off and use the table without the flame.
Refrigerator
Keep all your food cold in a refrigerator. That keeps you from having to carry items out from the house while entertaining. It keeps the beers cold during the party, too. Fridges are usually a good investment as they tend to be used a lot by adults and children to keep drinks handy and nearby.
Wine Refrigerator
Wine aficionados will want to include a wine refrigerator in their list of appliances. These keep your wine at just the right temperature. They also leave the refrigerator space for the food.
Ice Trough
Parties demand lots of ice. While it is not wise to put an ice machine outdoors in our cold climate, you can have a dedicated place to keep the ice during the party. An ice trough helps store the ice, so it is out of the way until you need it, and you can fill it with sodas and beers for your guests to have easy access to cold beverages.
Sink
Sinks are nice for cleanup. Unfortunately, the pipes tend to freeze in the winter and would need to be winterized in our Midwest climate. It may not be worth the investment if you don’t think you will use them regularly.
Seating
Everyone needs a place to sit while eating. We often design bar type seating into our outdoor kitchens to provide additional space for guests when hosting a large event or a place to use for serving station or set drinks.
Sports Experience
Sports watching parties are an honored tradition in KC. BBQ and football or baseball are serious events here in our city. We can install a large outdoor television so you can watch the game while grilling and entertaining outdoors. We have to consider the location of the TV so everyone can watch the game, but the TV doesn’t get too hot from the cooking flames. We also want to make sure there will not be a glare on the TV where we place it. Finally, we have to consider the availability of electrical for the TV and where we can run power to it. Once all these factors are considered you will find the perfect spot for displaying the game for your crowd of fans.
Storage
You need to consider what kind of storage you need in your outdoor kitchen. Will you keep a complete set of pots, pans, and utensils outdoors to use when cooking? You will need cabinets to put them in. You will at least have some tongs and tools for grilling along with miscellaneous items for serving and cleaning. We can help you find the best storage options to fit your needs.
Materials
The extremes of heat and cold your cabinets will be exposed to make concrete block and stone the most popular materials to use. We can also incorporate wood, composite, or steel in the design. We just have to be more careful to consider how the heat from the cooking surfaces may affect these material choices.
Countertops are usually made from limestone slabs that are chiseled or bullnosed on the edge and polished on the top. Another option would be concrete countertops that can be custom made for color and even have flakes or epoxy added in for an extra flare. Granite can also be used, but it is a thinner material at about 1″ thickness that doesn’t fit the outdoor scale quite as good at the thicker 2 1/4″ limestone or concrete options that we prefer.
Electrical and Lighting
Most likely you will want to incorporate a few outlets for a blender or charging a phone or speaker outdoors. So it is best to think this through when laying out your outdoor kitchen space. Lighting is also important since you will be outdoors and often entertaining after dark. Think about lighting up the space for your guests and don’t forget about the cook. Their job is much easier when they can see what they are doing.
Bringing It All Together
You want your outdoor kitchen to be a place where cooking, eating, and entertaining all come together. At Royal Creations, we can work with you to design exactly what you need for what you want to do. Our Blue Crew can then install it for you with the appliances you have picked out. Winter is a great time to plan spring projects. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to be ready to watch baseball in your outdoor kitchen this spring.
